Wednesday Writers With Peter

Hi all,


Wednesday the fifteenth is behind us now. Amazing how fast the time goes. Today is Summer Solstice and my son, Bill, and me have been mourning the passing of a year all day.
A year ago today, I'd just made my arrival in Fairbanks, Alaska and was experiencing 24
hour daylight for the first time in my life. This year, I am in Pennsylvania with Bill and Karen
at their house. I plan on being home the middle of July. Give or take. It's also very warm here
but the humidity isn't quite as oppressive as Florida. The thermometer was hovering around
93 degrees today, though.

Since arriving here on the 9th of June, I have been attending some local writing events just to enjoy the role of being a guest and also to learn some new things. I am finding that most groups do follow a quite structured agenda and there is very little discussion or warmness in the room. Frankly, it made me appreciate all the more, our own writing family which I've been referring to as the Wednesday Writers because it fits. :) Kind of like Sunday's Child. I understand the name motion was tabled for now. I was under the understanding that it was already decided as I'd mentioned it twice before and no one came up with anything different. Now, you know why I retired the 'official' positition. It's called fragmented brain function. :)

Peter and Russ sent me updates and I'd like to add my own Happy Birthday wishes to Ed Lyman. He's a bit amazing, I'd say. I'd appreciate it, too, if someone would call Irv Newman and make sure he is okay. He's missed a few meetings in a row now. I forgot my list of email and phone numbers and am trying to get ahold of Tuck Tucker myself. I did hear from Kris Palmer on Sunday and all is going great with her. She is selling books and had to order more! I'm most pleased for her as I know are all of you.

I'd like to thank Peter for leading the meeting on the 15th of June and I do appreciate that he tries to request and assign projects for everyone to do to spark discussion and learning. From that point, it's up to us as a group to take part. Also, I'd like thank Ed Ellis in advance for covering the first July meeting. A little bird also told me that Ed is doing a great job as the new director of Suncoast Writers Guild and may be asked to serve two years! I'm not surprised by this news, however.

I was most happy when reading the roll call list to see that George Mindling and Ben Daughtry returned for a second meeting and also that Cecile brought her mom to visit. In addition, I'd like to welcome Paula Foster and hope to meet her upon my return. And, I hope, Andrew, you're having 'fun'! Andrew was kind enough to include me on his group email. I agree writing should be something we all enjoy doing, have a passion for even, but for me the entire process was work and still is work because I want it to be the best it can be. Most writers do. Good luck just having fun, Andrew. :) Hopefully, you'll be able to teach us all your secret when Simon & Schuster comes rapping on your door.

I do want to welcome Ann Favreau and her husband, Ray, back to Venice from their trip north to, ultimately, Connecticut, I think it was. They were welcomed home by being named the Venice "Lions" of the Year by the Venice Lion's Club. Ann, so deserving for all she does, has been properly acknowledged this past year. She has been winning so many awards I cannot keep up! You go, girl!

All of you FWA members interested in entering the annual RPLA writings should check the main FWA website for details. www.floridawriters.net

You all be safe, be writing, and be happy until I wander thru here again. Have a wonderful summer and a happy 4th of July.

My best,
Susan Haley

Wednesday Already??

Hi Everyone!

I hope everyone is ready to attend the meeting led by Peter on Wednesday the 15th. A reminder: Peter had suggested an exercise in sharing your favorite word and how you use it and also an excerpt from your favorite author and why you like his or her particular writing style. That always spurs some delightful and informative disscussions.

I've arrived safely in Harrisburg, Pennslyvania and am having a great time with my granpup! Son Bill and me are lamenting the fact that a year ago we celebrated Summer Stolstice in Fairbanks, Alaska. We've planned a pity party for June 21st. :)

Jim Kelly and his family have also arrived safely in Cooperstown, New York where his grandsons were to play in a National baseball tournament. Kris is doing fine in Missouri as of the day before I left. Linda White left for Michigan on Saturday. It's that time of year, folks. Let's wish all the travelers safe returns.

I hope all of you have a great rest of June, Happy Father's day to all the dads out there, and enjoy Peter this week and Ed Ellis the first Wednesday in July! I am available by email if anyone has questions or announcements to post on the blog.

I did send in my formal resignation to FWA and assured them that the FWA members will continue to enjoy the extra benefits of the statewide networking. I also told President Chrissy Jackson that I'd continue to post on this blog until they decide what to do about a Sarasota WGL. That will save our county from just being a void out here. I do believe we had concensus on being referred to as The Wednesday Writers in the Nokomis Firehall group. Many of the FWA Groups have named their individual groups and events. FWA membership is not affected!

My best,
Susan

PS

Since we are always in to dialogues and voice inflections in our work, I deliberately left what to many might be a missed word requiring editing. It was from the sentence ' taking the laptop with.' Can anyone guess what city or area that comes from? The answer is scrambled below. Think of it as a brain twister thingy . . .


OGACIHC

Susan :))

June 1st Meeting Was a Fun Night

It was great to see everyone! Jean and Joe Porter were back from Jean's long absence recovering from an 'off the track' knee surgery. We had our Kris update on how well she is coming along. Susan Davis returned and read much to everyone's delight and we also welcomed two new faces both of whom seemed to enjoy our antics, Ben Daughtery and George Mindling. I thank the other folks for making them both feel welcome.

We always seem to fill over two hours quickly with readings. We have such talent in varied genres, lively and helpful discussions are the norm. Rod, Peter, Ed Ellis and Russ can always be counted on to help me out and Linda Malloy serves as our treasurer for the Firehall donations which is minimal considering the access we have to their training room on all days but Thursday. But, we have never been bumped from our room on a Wednesday, which was frequent when we held our meetings in the library. Other than the occasional fire siren it's usually quiet. We don't have to listen to the PA system beginning announcements at eight-fifteen telling us we must vacate the premises by ten to nine because the employees want to go home! I expect with the shortened hours now, we'd be greeted at the door with "you must be out by ten to eight . . ." Announcedments would begin at seven-fifteen only fifteen minutes after arrival. :)

My trip to the north country was announced and Peter has agreed to take the second June meeting on the 15th and Ed Ellis volunteered to take July 6th. I will be back for the second July meeting on July 20th. I will be taking the laptop with, so email communication will be possible if anyone has a question.

Peter has requested that everyone who enjoys reading from their own favorite author to bring their book. This great idea came from Keri and has really been a hit. Peter also requests that everyone choose their own favorite word and what they use it with. I could give an example of mine and when I use it but that would not be appropriate here. Joanne would laugh. :) We've also done this in the past and great discussions erupted then, too.

If anyone has something earthshaking to report in my absense, email me. Also if treated very nicely, they may request Russ into posting it on the blog. He did such a fabulous job for so long, I don't bother him unless it's really a 'need to know' thing!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads and have a great July 4th weekend as well. I'll look forward to seeing you all upon my return.

Best, Susan
Not Edited which means you are all friends. :)